Army Encampment (ETW building)
| Army Encampment | |
|---|---|
| Category: | Army |
| Level: | 0 |
| Turns to build: | 2 |
| Building cost: | 750 |
| |
| Enables | |
 Barracks | |
Moving an army into an encampment well away from civilians is a useful thing to do. Soldiers no longer have easy access to the “demon drink” for a start!
Separating troops from civilians also allows better training and indoctrination. Regiments have the space to practice drill and instil discipline in their men. Civilians also have funny ideas, and it is often best if common soldiers do not learn of their freethinking and sometimes disloyal ways.
An encampment, however, does not necessarily look very military. Apart from the fact that soldiers could carry on their civilian trades to supplement their army wages, an army encampment would also be thronged with women and children. Soldiers’ wives were expected to look after their men: wash, cook, clean, sew uniforms, act as nurses and even help bury the dead! A cunning officer who managed “the baggage” well could effectively double the number of hands there were for fetching and carrying. Among the children, young boys could find employment as drummers and musicians from as young as ten years of age. Historically, it was not unknown for officers to enrol their own children (even babies!) as musicians, so that they gained seniority from the date they joined the army!